Diversity Equity and Inclusion

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at PSO

The Professional Staff Organization strives to provide resources, examples, support, and empowerment to the UW professional staff community as part of its mission to uphold diversity, equity, and inclusion.

PSO Land Acknowledgment

With a tri-campus reach but centered on the Seattle campus, the PSO acknowledges with gratitude the Coast Salish peoples of this land, the land which touches the shared waters of all tribes and bands within the Suquamish, Tulalip, and Muckleshoot nations. We give thanks to the land, and to the people who are still here.

Diversity as a PSO Value

The PSO recognizes, honors and seeks to uphold diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of our work, including the composition and activities of our membership, board, committees, and volunteers; we are committed to actively addressing implicit bias and to mitigate systems of oppression.

PSO Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The PSO is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) on behalf of professional staff at the University of Washington, and to taking steps to become an anti-racist organization and community, so that all professional staff know that they are valued and their voices can be heard. We understand that this work is critical to the PSO’s mission: to highlight the essential role of, enrich the experience of, and serve as a resource for professional staff at the UW.

We recognize the historical and current systemic racism and structural discrimination experienced by marginalized peoples in our society and in our institutions, that impede access to opportunities and resources, and drive harmful and inequitable outcomes for health, longevity, wealth, wellbeing and beyond.

We are committed to a shared understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion that encompasses (but is not limited to) individual/group differences, cultural/social differences, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, socioeconomic class, age, religious beliefs, and mental and physical abilities. We will honor and respect everyone’s lived experiences.

As part of the ongoing process of advancing DEI and working toward anti-racism, we will employ and promote inclusive and justice-based practices that affirm identity, foster respect, and uphold dignity for the professional staff community.  We will continue to create culture and spaces that encourage dialogue and embrace learning about difference as we work to increase our own awareness and understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We will interrupt and redress institutional barriers, structural practices, and preservation of the status quo that, in any way, inhibits the success of professional staff.

PSO DEI Committee

One of the PSO’s standing committees, the DEI committee seeks to bring attention to the challenges of diversity and inclusion on our campus while actively collaborating with other campus programs to increase educational and community building opportunities. This group is responsible for planning and holding two one campus-wide annual meetings as well as other informational/educational events when possible.  We are always looking for more members to contribute for greater outreach. Contact the chair or psoboard@uw.edu to volunteer for more information or to join the working group. All are welcome.

PSO Diversity Forum

Since 2018, the Professional Staff Organization has hosted an annual Diversity Forum, bringing professional staff together to discuss issues around equity, diversity, inclusion, justice, and how these principles and practices play out at the UW for staff, faculty, and students alike. The event takes place in winter quarter, and all UW employees and students are invited to attend.

• 2018: Rickey Hall, Vice President for Minority Affairs and Diversity & UW’s Diversity Officer
• 2019: Terryl Ross, Assistant Dean for Diversity, College of the Environment
• 2020: Kimberly Harden, Harden Consulting Group: They Allyship Challenge
• 2021:  (Re)Building Cultures of Equity and Inclusion through Policy, Procedures and Budgets, with Ebonee Anderson, Mariasol Hill, Jamilah Williams, and Annette Anderson
• 2021 DEI Forum
• 2022 DEI Forum
• 2023 DEI Forum
• 2024 DEI Forum

Invitation to submit your DEI efforts to share with professional staff

The Professional Staff Organization’s DEI committee would like to hear from all the hard-working Equity, Inclusion and Diversity groups around campus. We would like to amplify your essential work, such as art, op-eds, events, forums, etc on the monthly PSO newsletter and website. Please email psoboard@uw.edu and let us know about your group and the group’s essential work to advance Equity, Inclusion and Diversity.

DEI Resources at UW

The PSO provides below a representative sample of DEI-relevant resources available throughout the University of Washington system. Please Contact the chair or psoboard@uw.edu if you think other resources could be added!

UW-wide Resources:

• UW Diversity Blueprint 
• UWHR DEI
• Diversity Council
• Race and Equity Initiative
• The Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity (OMA&D) works to increase diversity on campus and enrich the collegiate experience of all UW students, faculty, and staff.
• Business Diversity and Equity
• UW HR – Policies
• Staff Diversity Hiring Toolkit:
  • Policies
  • Planning
  • Hiring for Diverse Staff Checklist
  • Outreach
  • Candidate Review & Selection
  • Onboarding & Retention
  • Acknowledgements
• DEI Resources for Faculty, Post-Docs and Staff, curated by the College of the Environment
• UW Affinity groups
• UW Advance

Academic Units:

• College of Art + Art History + Design – https://art.washington.edu/diversity-equity-inclusion-accessibility
• College of Built Environments: Equity Council
• Department of English – https://english.washington.edu/diversity-equity-and-justice
• Evans School of Public Policy & Governance
• College of the Environment: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• School of Medicine – Center for Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• School of Nursing
• Department of Medicine – UW Medicine Healthcare Equity
• Department of Philosophy – https://phil.washington.edu/climate-diversity-resources
• Department of Surgery – Diversity Council Resources
• The Graduate School supports students and departments through programming, advocacy, and fostering conversation and dialogue. Within the Graduate School is the Graduate Opportunities and Minority Achievement Program (GO-MAP), which works to expand graduate education to everyone, with events and outreach geared toward underrepresented minority graduate students and students of color. The UW Graduate School has created a mentoring guide with a lot of tips and resources. It is originally designed for faculty, but it can be also used by postdocs and staff.

Facilities:

• Race, Equity and Diversity at UW Facilities
• Facilities Workforce Equity Group email: WorkForceEquityGroup@uw.edu

Resources for Staff Working with Students:

• wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – the Intellectual House – is a longhouse-style facility on the UW Seattle campus. It provides a multi-service learning and gathering space for Native American students, faculty and staff, as well as others from various cultures and communities to come together in a welcoming environment to share knowledge.
• The Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center of the University of Washington is part of The Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity. The Kelly ECC has a wealth of resources and opportunities available to students including student advising, organizational development, personal growth, and referrals to different departments and programs.
• The University of Washington Q Center is a primarily student-run resource center dedicated to serving students, faculty, staff and alumni of all sexual and gender orientation, identities, and expressions.
• The University of Washington Veterans Education Benefits office serves military veterans and their dependents during their time as students at the UW.
• The Disability Resources for Students (DRS) unit is dedicated to ensuring access and inclusion for all students with disabilities on the Seattle campus.
•  Leadership Without Borders is a resource center for undocumented students offering leadership development, peer support, textbook lending, career advising, and financial training.
• Mental Health and Wellness Resources for Students of Color – by Psychology Degree Guide.org
• Resources for Grad Students with Disabilities – by Online Masters Degrees.org
• Scholarships for Students with Disabilities – by Public Service Degrees.org

DEI Educational Materials